USS Bunting (Ams-3) (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Bunting was laid down on 1 October 1942 at Benton Harbor, Michigan, by the Dachel-Carter Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 29 May 1943; and commissioned on 23 July 1943 at Algiers, Louisiana, Lt. J. H. Hawkins, USNR, in command. The motor minesweeper completed fitting out and trials in the 8th Naval District and then got underway for the Norfolk, Virginia. area at the beginning of August. On 11 August, she arrived at Little Creek, Virginia, whence she conducted shakedown and minesweeping training in Chesapeake Bay. Early in September, YMS-170 stood down the east coast to Key West, Florida, where she arrived on 12 September. After a brief period in drydock for repairs at Key West, she put to sea at the end of the month for Puerto Rico. The motor minesweeper arrived in San Juan on 4 October. For the next 22 months, YMS-170 operated among the islands of the southeastern Caribbean performing minesweeping operations, escorting warships and merchantmen, conducting antisubmarine patrols and miscellaneous other minor duties.